I've said it before and i'll say it again.....I have a early 80's Japanese Squier and as far as the neck and the body..... It smashes most US built strats i have ever played.....Its the cheapest guitar i own and the most played!!!

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Mymindsok:

I get all that...I actually did some work in econ. What I don't understand is why Fender builds in both Indonesia and Mexico. If the Indonesian instruments are as good or better than the Mexican ones, and have a better cost/price differential, then why not simply put a "Fender" decal on them and leave the "Squier" one off? And if the MIMs have the better C/P differential, why not badge THEM as "Squier" for the market the Indonesian line sellls to?

I must lack a bit of critical info. Are ALL the Indonesian and MIMs consumed with no backlog? If so, then it's simply that Fender has 2 assembly lines running at full capacity and that makes sense. Or is there what is called "Market Discrimination" going on where people in Asia have a preference for Squiers over MIMs and people in the US prefer MIMs.

I don't know.

why not simply put a "Fender" decal on them and leave the "Squier" one off?

Wiki's answer:
The Squier brand has been used by Fender since 1982 to market inexpensive variants of Fender guitars intended to compete with the rise of Stratocaster copies, as the Stratocaster was slowly becoming more popular.

thats an interesting question. i'm no business expert, so I wonder why they don't.

Fender owns a lot of brands these days why not put Fender on everything they own?
Guild Guitar Company, the Sunn Amplifier Company, SWR Sound Corporation, Gretsch began manufacturing and distributing new Gretsch guitars. Fender also owns: Jackson, Charvel, Olympia, Orpheum, Tacoma Guitars (based in Seattle, WA), Squier and Brand X Kaman Music Corporation, which owns Ovation acoustic guitars, LP and Toca hand
percussion products, Gibraltar Hardware, Genz Benz Amplification, Hamer Guitars and is the exclusive U.S. sales representative for Sabian Cymbals and exclusive worldwide distributor of Takamine Guitars and Gretsch Drums.



btw, I'm a very happy Squier 51 owner....
I like it equal to my US strat, just because its so cool and unique and has a great frkn neck and was my guitar to "mod" and learn how to setup and do anything to.
Also, in hard times financially, I never sold it because its not worth anything.
Squier 51 series was so cool, Fender Japan recently copied it for the Pawn Shop series.

Well AB, I'm kinda with you...

I own some cheapies, like my Epi Stratcopy (Which just happens to be a great little Strat!) two Squier 51's andan MIM Strat but I just LOVE my EJ, I spent a pile of cash to own it and I'm very proud and covetous of it.

Thats just human nature ina world where we are taughtto judge one another by what we own instead of who we are. why just last night I was at our weekly downtown market and a band made up of 20-somethings was pounding out some neo-punk/rock and the guys were playing some real off-market axes but you know what? Those guys were rockin out and the chicks were dancing!

Thats what it's really about!

Squiers exist because Fender wants to have a guitar at every price point and skill level. You have to remember Fender sells guitars all over the world. In some places even the lowest level MIM fender costs way more than it does here.

Also why axe the Squier name when the brand itself has almost a 30 year history in making guitars, even predating the MIM Fenders themselves. As well the Squier brand didn't always equate to cheaper guitars.

Check out 21frets.com if you want a pretty good history of the original Squiers

I display my guitars in my sig. I do have listed one of my favorite guitars which is my 89 Squier HM. I play it all the time. It has the hotest pickups in my collection, stock Powersound pickups from the 80's. I have always defended the Squier line. I buy what I can afford.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Hey...!

If any of you are interested in actually learning something, go to the 21 frets web site and read through the guitar descriptions. You'll find Squiers, Tokai's, Greco's and other Fender and Gibson knock-offs there that are much better than any of our MIN's and that are selling for more money!

Link: http://www.jpstingrayguitars.com/JAPAN%20VINTAGE.html

Link: http://www.21frets.com/

While I like my guitar to look good, what's most important is does it "play good", sound good, and does it feel right for you when you play it?

If I had gotten my JM before my Strat, I probably wouldn't have gotten the Strat...I just find the JM more comfortable for me, not that I don't enjoy the Strat. I also have a Steinberger because we travel a lot and it's far easier to carry and still is a pretty nice guitar. IOW, I'd have, at a minimum, both the JM and the SteinB.

To be a better cost benefit relationship eletric guitar, and a beginner option.

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BOSS ST-2 POWER STACK
BOSS ML-2 METAL CORE
BOSS MT-2 METAL ZONE
BOSS MD-2 MEGA DISTORTION
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION
BOSS DS-1 DISTORTION
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS OD-3 OVERDRIVE
BOSS SD-1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
VOX TONELAB ST

Fender needs to make their guitars like $450 or something cuz i see used fenders on eBay for $300

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Musos can be a pain!!!

But if you have 15,000 they will give you free Fenders

Get a new player, whose parents (or they themselves) are buying their first guitar hooked on the scale, feel and construction of a Fender (Squier) and they're more likely to stay with the brand (Fender) when they upgrade to a MIM, MIA, Custom Shop, Master Built, etc.

When I first started playing, I was fortunate enough to have (1) a little bit of cash to lay down for a decent axe and (2) a source for some great used guitars.

In 1989, I paid less than $300 for a used 1980 G&L F100 in dang near mint condition. I still own it, and it's possibly the best-made guitar I own. I later bought two more (used) G&L guitars (one of which I wish I had back).

I got used to the G&L scale, feel and design. The first time I played a Fender, it felt "wrong"--it played "different"...and Gibsons were even more different.
Now, the G&L scale is supposedly the same as Fender, but the headstocks are significantly longer; I don't know if that affects the feel of the guitar or not, but whenever I put down my Tele or Strat and pick up my G&L, I have to "reset" my brain momentarily to get the right touch. Bends are different, and with the different construction, it sustains and plays differently as well.

It's even harder to go from my G&L to my drummer's Epiphone Les Paul Jr.; I assume it's because of the massive difference in scale (Epi's much shorter), feel, etc...I'm not saying I can't do it, I just have to reset my brain again--I can't bend as hard without going off-pitch and the micro-tones are different if I'm playing slide.

I prefer--and I'm used to--the feel, playability and construction of Fenders and G&Ls...that doesn't mean I can't play another brand or style of guitar, it just means those feel "right."

A kid I know was buying his first guitar (he had saved up for almost a year and was buying it out of his own pocket) and he asked me what he should buy. I used this analogy: I can't tell you what kind of underwear to buy, because I don't have your butt. What fits for me might ride up your crack, what fits for you might pinch or constrict parts of my body...You have to get what feels right when you put them on.
Likewise for guitars; I love my Telecaster, but a friend of mine hates the way it feels. Likewise, I don't care for his Epiphone semi-hollow bodied axe. Neither one of us are wrong.

So, when a kid buys his first cheap Squier that others (read: Gear Snobs) might look down upon, he or she might be starting a lifetime of loving, playing and buying Fender guitars...that's why Squier exists.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I bought my 21st guitar yesterday (collect a lot better than I play). It's a used Affinity HSS in new condition. I bought it only for the very nice Fender case that came with it. For the price I paid, the guitar was pretty much free. Anyway, I gave it the once over, put new strings on it, and thought it would be near impossible for me to play because of the narrow 41mm neck (my fat fingers). Suprise! What a nice little guitar. Sure we can tell the difference between an American or MIM, but who cares! It's a fantastic guitar for the price. For all of you that own a Squier, don't be intimidated by what anyone else is playing. 70% of us aren't worthy of anything better.

.........I sent to Brad some time back and told him that IMHO THAT guitar should have the v-neck they use on the 50's Road Worn. He passed the word on but I doubt we'll see it. There are economies of scale here which work for standardizing the necks across the line.

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"Another day in paradise!"

My 2010 Squier Duo-Sonic is a very good guitar. And I have nine others considered "professional quality".

I made sure the Duo-Sonic was set up by a good tech when I bought it...I understand intonation on these can be tricky. The action is perfect for my style, all the way up the neck.

The tones and overall playability are fine. It's as light as my 1965 Mustang and has a body contour which the old Mustang did not have until 1969. And I really love the Desert Sand, Maple, and anodized gold combination.

I noticed that when I dialed off the tone and played through the neck pickup (with considerable amp gain) to get that "Woman Tone", my hi-E became pretty thin. I raised that side of the neck pup and now I get a good strong hi-E.

I'm impressed with what this little guitar gives me. And I have a question...

Someone once said this Duo-Sonic is not a "reissue" and I wonder about that...are they thinking "reissue" is too classy a term for a Squier? So, does it make any difference that it's not exact specs or that Squier, not Fender, is making it?

Ya!

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2006 MiM Strat Black/Maple
1982 Alhambra 6P Classical
The Gibson L-1
Ovation Celebrity Acoustic
Epiphone Black Beauty Les Paul HHH